Clam Chowdah on a Summer Night

Hello!

I love when CJ comes up with a good idea for dinner that I wouldn't think of with myself.  Clam Chowder in the middle of summer?  Sure!  We made this about a week ago on a chilly rainy evening, and it was the perfect complement to a movie night on the couch.

For some reason, I always thought Clam Chowder was hard to make, but it's actually incredibly easy and not very time consuming.  Give this recipe a try!


Classic Clam Chowder Recipe

Ingredients:

4 slices bacon, diced
1 chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 1/2 cups water
3 1/2 cups cubed red potatoes with skin
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
ground black pepper to taste
3 cups half-and-half
3 tablespoons butter
2 (10 ounce) cans minced clams

Directions:

Chop up the bacon, and cook in a large pot.

While the bacon is cooking, chop up all the vegetables.

Have you ever seen a cuter potato in your life?

Check out the pink knife that CJ got me.  He really knows the way to a woman's heart; colorful cutlery!

 Dump all the veggies in the pot to with the bacon, and add in the clam juice and the water. 

Cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.  Then add in the half and half, butter, and the clams.  Cook for another 10 minutes and remove from heat. 

Let the chowder sit for about 15 minutes to thicken before serving.

Enjoy with bread for dipping, and a glass of white wine!